Temperatures have risen to 70-something degrees and flowers haven’t come into full bloom, but this is the time that floral prints, motifs and burnout designs have people clawing at Rococo-style fashions once again.
Around this time last year, I found myself snooping through Promenade fabric store for floral-printed chiffon and left the checkout line with a whole new respect for floral fashion. Great worldly designers have used this season’s fashion weeks to promote the strength of flower power on globally-renowned runways.
At recent fashion weeks, Nepalese-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung showcased his expertise in color manipulation as he spliced pristine whites with rich violet floral motifs and silk prints on drape-heavy jackets, shifts and flouncy dresses.
Oscar De La Renta ruled the runway with sunflower-inspired colorways, straight shapes with impeccable detail and magically-tufted skirts with the fullness of blooming daffodils.
The denim market has caught on to the flowery trends of spring, and 7 For All Mankind demonstrates its command of trends and Easter pastel colorways with the Kauai Floral skinny jean at $189.
One brand that has stepped outside the lines of its norm is Dr. Martens with the introduction of its 1460 Floral Boot. This boot has militaristic, nature-surviving traits, delightfully displaying a floral-arrangement prints that would fancy a picnic setting.
One collaboration that has fashion headlines articulating excitement — from discount to stockholding levels — is the Jason Wu for Target collection. This simplistic spring-style emergence captures the sweeter side of a navy blue base with a white and yellow sunflower print starting at $25.
Other great spring finds can be spotted in popular shopping establishments like Urban Outfitters. UO is a contemporary haven for fresh casual separates and has presented brands like Kimchi Blue to suit this task.
Kimchi Blue has truly delivered the aesthetic this season inspires at the right price. Sheer floral blouses, flouncy flowery drapes and camisole shirts are in demand from this brand. They start at $20 and can be found at a local UO store.
Urban Outfitters also offers sporty, floral rounded-frame sunshades — that is, if they can be found before the store sells out, as the shades have proven to be a hot item.
For an even less expensive price-point of $10, an array of slightly kitsch floral sunshade designs can be found from cute clothing brand FULL TILT, further discounted on Tillys.com online retail website.
If you’re a man of virile tastes, don’t be apprehensive to accept the soothing but flaunting floral trend. A slightly surprising recurring encounter I’ve had on drafty but sunny afternoons is a men’s Hawaiian shirt.
Experiences in the past have led me to one word about Hawaiian shirts: gross. But in recent years, I have come to respect and admire the cool demeanor and courage in style independence it takes to pursue this look the right way.
I spotted a few shirts I would approve if I’d seen them paired with some nice, fitted white cotton blend, cream twill or khaki light denim pants.
When shopping for the Hawaiian-shirt look, please remember to use moderation in terms of loose fit and color selection. Anything past the color value of a burnt sienna could be frightening and bombarding, as are the extra-large tent sizes that some consumers enjoy.
Three shirts I found acceptable: a versatile cream flower on top of a solid black button through. The A9 Hawaiian Garden Men’s shirt on ESCreations.com is a nice masculine beach-friendly man-blouse. A true blue attraction showcased by the Hawaiian shirts with Jungle Birds motif from WaveShoppe.com is a great way to be noticed but not flamboyantly. Hibiscus Hot Rod Men’s Aloha shirt from ParadiseClothingCo.com gives cool tones, complimented by a macho red hibiscus flowers vintage automobile print.
With all the fabulous floral features coming to date, the Parade Ground is ready for some stylish cameos and students relaxing in their chic leisure.
Al Burks is a 25-year-old apparel design senior from New Orleans.
 
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Contact Al Burks at [email protected]